The 36th District Court is the largest district court in the state of Michigan and one of the busiest courts in the United States. More people have contact with the district court than any other court. For this reason, it is often referred to as the "People's Court".

The 36th District Court is dedicated to administering justice in an equitable, impartial, and timely manner in accordance with the rule of law.

The 36th District Court shall provide the public and other agencies it serves with an accessible, safe and respectful environment in which to conduct business and resolve disputes.

The 36th District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following matters occurring within the City of Detroit:General Civil: Lawsuits seeking damages up to $25,000.Landlord-Tenant: Disputes between a landlord and tenant(s).Small Claims: Money disputes up to $6,000.Criminal: Felony offenses from arraignment through preliminary examination and misdemeanor offenses.Traffic: Misdemeanor citations/tickets including statute and ordinance violations and civil infractions.